
Tyngsborough Elementary School
Weekly Update 11/7/17
This Thursday, we will host many Veterans for our Annual Parade & Breakfast. Students and staff are encouraged to wear Patriotic colors to celebrate of our heroes! We will look forward to this event each year and we'll be sure to share pictures.
There is no school on Friday, November 10th.
O'Connor Studios Picture Re-Take is Tomorrow
If your child was absent on picture day and you'd like to order pictures, please use your original order form from September or have your child pick up a new blank form in the office.
If your student would like to have their picture re-taken, return your original package to the photographer on re-take day. No order form is necessary.
In order to better serve our students learning needs we are continuing to evolve both our practices and teaching models. Beginning this week, we will implement a WIN (“What I Need”) block which will allow teams in grades 1-5 to provide intervention and enrichment to continue to meet the needs of all learners. The WIN block will be implemented three days per week for approximately 20-30 minutes. Students in need of intervention were identified through formal and informal assessments. The WIN block will rotate every 6-8 weeks.
Coordinated Program Review Onsite Visit
Dr. Michael Flanagan, Superintendent of the Tyngsborough Public Schools was informed by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education of an upcoming Coordinated Program Review that will be taking place this school year. As part of this Coordinated Program Review, Department staff will visit the district during the week of November 27, 2017. Such visits are routinely conducted by the Department to satisfy federal and state requirements for the periodic review of specific education programs and services in schools throughout the Commonwealth. The Department is reviewing several programs during a single visit in order to use Department and school staff’s time most efficiently and to encourage strong connections among the programs.
The Department's Coordinated Program Review will address the following programs: Special Education, Civil Rights, and English Learner Education. After reviewing school district procedures for these programs, a Department team will make its onsite visit, during which it will review individual student records, interview administrators, teachers and survey parents and observe instructional spaces. After the onsite visit it will prepare a report for the superintendent and school committee, with detailed findings for each program. All parents/guardians of students receiving special education services will be invited to participate in an online survey. Those parents wishing to take the survey who do not have access to the internet may request a paper copy of the survey from the Department using the contact information found below.
Using a scale of ratings ranging from “Commendable” to “Not Implemented,” the report will rate the implementation of each requirement reviewed by the Department. Where requirements are found not implemented or only partially implemented, the district must propose to the Department corrective action to bring those areas into compliance with statutes and regulations. Districts and schools are encouraged to incorporate the corrective action into their district and school improvement plans and professional development plan. The school district will be provided with technical assistance from the Department in developing a corrective action plan. Both the Department’s report and the corrective action plan are public information and will be available to the public upon request. Program Review Final Reports are also available on the Department’s Internet website at <http://www.doe.mass.edu/pqa/review/cpr/reports/>.
Any member of the public may request to be interviewed by telephone by a member of the Department's visiting team. Those wishing to be interviewed should call the superintendent's office at 978-649-7488 no later than November 12. 2017 to leave their name and phone number, or they may call the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education at (781) 338-3733. A member of the visiting team will contact each person desiring an interview within two weeks after the completion of the onsite visit. If an individual is not comfortable communicating in English or requires some other accommodation, the Department will make arrangements to communicate appropriately with the individual.
Mrs. Muraca's Science & Tech Newsletter
https://www.smore.com/tu7c5-tes-science-technology
Community Information
All parents can find Community Info tab on the TPS website. All approved flyers for community events will be published here and will be frequently changing.
http://www.tyngsboroughps.org/family-and-community-3be6b89e
Message from Dr. Brano & Mr. Salmon for Grade 5 Families
I am writing to tell you about a new assessment that we are using in grades 5-8 called NWEA MAP Assessments (Northwest Evaluation Association – Measures of Academic Progress). These are web-based assessments that your child will take on a computer/chrome book to help us determine your child’s instructional level and to measure academic growth throughout the school year.
MAP assessments are unique in that they adapt to be appropriate for your child’s level of learning. As a result, each student has the same opportunity to succeed and maintain a positive attitude toward testing. MAP allows us to administer each assessment in one session and use less class time while still receiving detailed, accurate information about your child’s growth.
Unlike other assessments, NWEA assessments yield fast results and allow teachers and administrators to access a variety of reports within 24 hours of completing the assessment. MAP reports scores as norm-referenced, achievement, and growth, providing different perspectives on an individual student’s progress from a single test event.
Students will take MAP assessments three times per school year in Reading, Language, and Math. The results of these assessments will be used in a variety of ways including to inform teacher instruction, intervention programing and placement, 7th & 8th grade mathematics placement, as well as programming and placement for advanced learners.
Please feel free to contact your child’s Principal or me if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Mark W. Branco
Assistant Superintendent of Schools
Yesterday, 5th graders at TES took part in the first of 3 assessments (Reading, Math and Language) over the next two weeks for the NWEA Map Assessment. This is a new assessment tool that the district is implementing in grades 5-8 to gain a baseline on student performance for the school year. Most students completed the test within the hour and twenty minutes that was provided. Students that were not yet done after the allotted time, were able to move to another room to complete the testing. The NWEA test is an untimed test and students will have as long as they need to complete it.
Today, 5th graders will complete the Math portion of the test in the same manner. Next week, during their Science and Technology class with Mrs. Muraca, students will complete the Language portion of the test.
Any students that are absent will be able to make up the assessment for that day on the day they return to school or shortly thereafter.
At the end of the school year, parents will receive an end of year summary report, similar to MCAS, that will provide them with an overview of their child's results.
If you should have any questions, please let me know.
Thanks.
John Salmon
ADOPT A FAMILY 2017
It is that time of year again, and the Tyngsborough Public School’s sponsored Adopt-A-Family program is beginning its annual efforts as we approach the 2017 holiday season.
The Adopt-A-Family program has been in existence for over forty years and provides assistance to needy families within our community during the holidays. The continued goal of the program is to assist those in need within our community by providing a meal, as well as gifts for children and teens who might otherwise go without. Last year this Adopt-A-Family program was able to assist over 100 needy families and elderly with help from students in our schools, private citizens and a few community businesses. This year will be no different, times continue to be difficult for a growing number of families.
In order to continue to provide assistance, we are reaching out to community members and businesses in the greater community for support. At this time the program is in need of the following:
- Family and children sponsors, please email our Family Liaison Melissa Mallous at Melissa.Mallous@tyngsboroughps.org
- Gift cards to local businesses (Walmart, Target, Market Basket, Old Navy, etc.)
- AAF Gift Basket Raffle - Purchase raffle tickets - AAF tickets can be purchased in the main office of TES, TMS and THS beginning November 6, 2017. The raffle will end on December 7, 2017 and the winters will be announced on December 8, 2017.
- Monetary donations (checks made out to Tyngsborough High School, memo: Adopt A Family Program) can be sent to Tyngsborough Public Schools, 50 Norris Road, Tyngsborough, MA 01879, ATTN: Sharon Fairbanks
If you are interested and able to make a donation, sponsoring a child/family yourself, or as a group, or offering support in another way, please contact one of the Adopt-A-Familycommittee members listed below. We look forward to establishing new partnerships within our community. Your contribution, along with the combined efforts and generosity of many, will ensure another successful season of giving for our neighbors in need.
Warm regards,
Sarah Lewenczuk Melissa Mallous
978-649-8914 978-649-3115
Adopt-A-Family Secretary & Treasurer Family Liaison
Sarah.lewenczuk@tyngsboroughps.org Melissa.mallous@tyngsboroughps.org
Sharon Fairbanks
978-649-7488
Adopt-A-Family Community Liaison
Sharon.fairbanks@tyngsboroughps.org
ADOPT A FAMILY!
TYNGSBOROUGH COMMUNITY
ANNUAL FOOD DRIVE!!
TES-2017
FOOD DRIVE BEGINS:
NOVEMBER 1st-DECEMBER 8th
ANY NON-PERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS APRECIATED
SOME SUGGESTIONS
Pasta & Sauce, Cereals-Breakfast Bars, School Snacks, Canned Vegetables, Canned/Snack Fruits, Soups, Peanut Butter-Jelly etc.
We are off to a great start!!
Collection boxes will be in the main hall of TES
Last Year we collected almost 1000 pounds of non-perishable food items
Lets try for over 1000 pounds this year
Thank you all for your anticipated participation; we are grateful for any contributions.
RAFFLE ITEMS
Adopt A Family raffle item tickets will be available for purchase on Monday, November 6 in the Main Office of each school.
Three groups of raffle items will rotate through each school office on November 15, November 28 and December 7, so be sure to check back for the new grouping. Attached is the list of current raffle items.
Thank you for your support of this wonderful community wide program.
2017 Raffle Baskets Descriptions for Schools.pdf
Important Dates (*Dates are subject to change)
NOVEMBER
Wednesday, November 1-9: Fall Scholastic Book Fair
Wednesday, November 8: Picture Re-Take Day & Absentee Photos with O'Connor Studios
Thursday, November 9: Veteran's Day Breakfast & Parade (Wear Patriotic Colors)
Friday, November 10: No School, Veterans Day Holiday
Wednesday, November 22: Early Release Day (Preschool Dismissal @ 11:30 & K-5 @ 12:00)
Wednesday, November 22: Trimester 1 Grades Close
Thursday, November 23 - Friday, November 24: No School, Thanksgiving Holiday
DECEMBER
Friday, December 1: Trimester 1 Report Cards sent home
Wednesday, December 6: Early Release Day (Preschool Dismissal @ 11:30 & K-5 @ 12:00)
Friday, December 22: Early Release Day (Preschool Dismissal @ 11:30 & K-5 @ 12:00)
Monday, December 25 - Friday, December 29: No School, Winter Break
Please consider supporting our amazing community groups.
http://www.tyngsboroughpto.org/
There is still time to get your fill of Yankee Candles and support the PTO. Click on https://www.yankeecandlefundraising.com/ in the Start Shopping section enter group # of 990067378 then click start shopping. All items will be delivered directly to the person who orders them, so please share this link with your friends and family. You can also enroll you child to be a seller and from there, input email addresses of friends and family and Yankee Candle will send the email out with all the necessary information.
Again Thank you for all your past, present and future support.
http://www.tyngsboroughps.org/pages/Tyngsborough/Departments/Special_Education/sepac
There will be a FREE Workshop for BOTH Parents and Educators about the Social Lives of Teens at THS in the Library tomorrow night, 11/8/17. Please RSVP if you plan to attend! (Info below)
https://www.facebook.com/simplysocialkids/posts/1572707366143617
Proud Principal,
Kerry Cavanaugh
The Tyngsborough Public Schools does not discriminate against students, parents, employees or the general public on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, religion, or age.Adopt A Family Committee